Indian Business Podcast Can Wow Skin Science make a comeback? : Ft Manish ( Founder of WOW)
Jan 16, 2026
Manish Chowdhary, Co-founder of WOW Skin Science, turned a ₹6.5 crore debt into a thriving D2C brand. He candidly discusses spotting beauty trends and the launch of popular products like apple cider vinegar shampoo. Manish highlights the importance of quality and innovation while revealing costly mistakes in marketing and distribution. He also shares insights into the reboot strategy and plans to reposition for Gen Z. With a focus on resilience and staying true to brand ethos, he outlines his roadmap for profitability and growth.
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Use Trade Shows To Find Differentiated Products
- Do attend trade shows like Natural Expo East/West to spot innovations the Indian market hasn't adopted.
- Use those events to find differentiated products you can adapt for local consumers.
Premium Experience With Tight Margins
- Manish deliberately priced premium-format, no-sulfate/no-paraben shampoos at accessible price points to democratize perceived luxury.
- He accepted higher COGS and tighter margins to deliver shelf experience and build brand trust.
General Trade Expansion Turned Toxic
- After raising capital Wow expanded aggressively into general trade and gave long credit terms, which filled distributors' shelves.
- Stock didn't move, returns mounted and unsellable inventory caused ~₹50 crore writebacks and huge losses.